Military field-table.



A. S. FLEMING & J. CURRY.

MILITARY FIELD TABLE. APPLIOATIbN FILED DBQ.16,1909.

' Patented May 24, 1910.

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mum-1 u GRAHAM CD1PHOYO-LITHOGRAPHERS,WASHINGTON D C A. S. FLEMING & J.CURRY.

MILITARY FIELD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.16,1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

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m rmsaes 1. 01(6)? I a/w. 0 44 ANDREW a GRAHAM c0.PHOYO-L11NDGRAFNER$WASHINGTON D c A. s; FLEMING & J. CURRY. MILITARYFIELD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16,1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onncn.

ADRIAN S. FLEMING AND JOHN CURRY, OF VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON; SAID FLEMINGASSIGNOR T0 MAIBEL Gr. FLEMING, 013 FORT I). A. RUSSELL, WYOMING.

MILITARY FIELD-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Application filed December 16, 1909. Serial No. 533,444.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADRIAN S. FLEMING and J OHN CURRY, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Vancouver, in the county of Clark and Stateof WVashington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in MilitaryField-Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to the class of tables which fold into portableshape and also have compartments therein.

The object of our invention is to provide a device in which the tablemay be folded in two sections and thus be reduced to a size convenientfor transportation, with means to secure the table in either folded oropen position for use as a desk or table, besides providing compartmentstherein for the reception of dining utensils, writing materials or othersmall articles. We attain these objects as well as other advantages bythe construction, combinations and arrangements of parts illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table without extension leaves, inerect position with its cover open. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspectiveview of one corner of the table in folded position, showing the hook ofthe locking arm engaged. Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in sectionillustrating the arrangement of the cover supporting arm. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the table without extension leaves, in invertedposition and also with lids on the under surface opening intocompartments within the thickness of the table in both members. Fig. 5is a sectional view of a detail part on line A-A Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is anend elevation of the table provided with extension leaves on each side.Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the table shown in Fig. 6 in foldedposition. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail part of Fig.7 on the line BB thereof. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view indetail of one leg of the table. Fig. 10 is an enlarged transversesectional view of the leg shown in Fig. 9 .on the line G-C thereof. Fig.11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the part of the leg shown in Fig.10 on the line DD thereof. Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse sectionalview of the leg shown in Fig. 9 on the line EE thereof.

Like numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the views.

'FF are the two halves or members of the table, hinged at their joiningedges by the hinges 13 on the lower surface on the table (Fig. 1).

G-G are legs hinged upon the lower surface of the table by hinges bbnear the respective corners thereof and in such positions that they maybe folded into the recesses let-14L. The legs shown are tubular and havelongitudinal slots 15 therein. At the upper end of the slot 15 the legis provided with an opposite transverse opening 16 therein. Near thelower end and 0p posite the slot 15 the leg is provided with a recess17, the upper side of which is beveled to permit the ends 19 to slideout therefrom. See Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12. A larger opening 0 is formed inthe leg at the lower end of the slots, to admit the collar.

18-18 are leg braces, the ends 19 extending at right angles thereto. Theleg braces have a collar 20 in suitable position on the ends 19. Theupper ends of the leg braces are pivoted to the under side of the tablein suitable position by pivots 21-21.

The member F of the table as shown in Fig. 1 has compartments 22 and 23,the former being deeper than the latter and all opening upward, Thecompartments 22 ex tend into a recess 24: of the member F when the tableis folded. The upper surface of the member F has a lid 25 hinged on oneside to the side of the table by the hinges 26. The lid 25 is providedwith supporting arms 2727 at each end. The ends of the arms are pivotedto the lid 25 in suitable position thereon by pivots 282S. The oppositeends of the arms have transverse pins 29, Fig. 3, which extend intoinclined slots 30 in the inner surface of the ends of the member F. Theends of the member F are also formed with vertical grooves Ell-31 inwhich the ends of the arms 2727 move.

In Fig. 4: the members F-F are shown provided with compartments cZ cZrespectively and having lids e e which are provided with springs f andknobs f as shown in Fig. 5. The member F of the table is provided withlocking arms 32 on each end, one only being shown, viz, in Figs. 1 and2. The arm 32 is pivoted at one end by a pivot 33 on the end of themember F near its inarms 27 ner side. This arm is formed with a hook 34on its pivoted end and slides through a fulcrum holding plate 35 pivotednear the center of the end of the memberF. The opposite end of thelocking arm 32 is provided with a suitably formed locking head 36. Thehead has openings 373737 therein in suitable locations. The member F hasa locking pin 38 on its end near the outer side, and the member F has alocking pin 39 in a similar location. These pins are so positioned thatwhen the table is erected, the pin 38 enters the opening 37 of thelocking head and the arm 32 retains the table in erected position andprevents it buckling. Also, when the table is folded, the pin 39 enterstheopening 37 and the pin 38 the opening 37' of the head and thus locksthe members together as appears in Fig. 7. The lid 25 is provided with asmall bolt 40 in each end one only being visible in the views. The boltis moved through the hook to secure the lid as shown in Fig. 2 andrelieve the strain upon the small cover lock 47 shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 6 the table is shown with extension leaves HH. These are hingedto the outer sides of the members F F respectively and fold over uponthe surface of the same form of table as illustrated in Fig 1. They areeach provided with curved supporting arms 4141 pivoted on the ends ofthe leaves by pivots 4242. They also pass through pivotal holding plates4343 on the ends of the members F F, and when the lids are opened theyengage fulcrum stops 4444 in the outer sides of the ends of the membersF -F respectively. The free ends of the arms 41-41 have openings 4545which receive the pins 4646 in the outer sides of the ends of theextension leaves HH. l/Vhen extension leaves are provided, the lidsupporting arms 272'7 Figs. 1 and 3 are omitted, as also the hook 34 onthe locking arm 32. The supporting arms also retain the extension leavesin closed position when the table is folded. The lid 25 is thencountersunk and as before said is provided with a lock 47, Fig. 6.

It will now be seen that when the table as shown in Fig. 1 is erected,the braces retain the legs in vertical position and the locking arm 32retains the members F F in horizontal position, preventing them frombuckling. If the lid 25 be closed the device is used as a small table.If the lid be opened as shown in Fig. 1 it is supported by the 27 andthe device is then intended for an army field desk, the compartmentsbeing designed primarily for the reception of writing materials andstationery. WVhen the table is folded the compartments 22 enter thelower recess 24 of the member F and the legs having been folded in thelower recesses as appears in Fig. 4, the members are locked together asshown in Fig. 7. The table is then in portable shape.

It will be further seen that when exten sion leaves are provided thetable is folded in the same manner as shown in Fig. 7 fortransportation. lVhen the table is erected, the extension leaves aresupported by the arms 41-41 and access to the compartments may be had byraising the countersunk lid 25. The table with extension leaves isintended for use as an army field mess table for a small mess, thecompartments being designed for the reception of eating utensils. Thetubular legs are intended to be of light construction and the pins 20 onthe ends of the braces 181S' are introduced into the slots 15 throughopenings C and the brace ends are thus retained within the legs and aremovable vertically therein. The legs may be of other form for the sameobject. lVhen the table is erected the ends 19 of the braces enter theopenings 16 and retain the legs in upright position. hen the table is infolded form the ends 19 enter the recesses 17 and thus retain the legsin folded position as shown in Fig. 4. The locking arm 32 is made ofmetal sufliciently thin to be flexible. The braces are also intended tobe of some material permitting them to spring.

In the form of table as shown in Fig. 4 the compartments can only beopened when the table is partly or wholly unfolded and they may be usedfor the reception of any small articles desired. The end locks andbraces are then omitted. In all forms the table when folded may becarried in the same manner as an ordinary suit case of rectangularshape.

Having thus described our device we claim:

1.. In a portable military field table, supporting means, comprisingtubular legs each hinged to the lower surface of the table and having alongitudinal slot, an opposite transverse opening 16 at the upper end ofthe slot and opposite the lower end of the slot a recess 17, leg braceshaving ends formed at right angles thereto, and a collar near theextremity thereof one end of the braces being pivoted on the lowersurface of the table, the right angled end extending into the slot ofthe leg and through the opening 16 when the legs are in erected positionand into the recess 17 when the legs are in folded position,substantially as de scribed.

2. A portable folding military field table comprising two members F -Fhinged together at their oining edges, one member F having a recess 24opening downward, the other member F having compartments 22 openingupward, vertical grooves 31 and inclined slots 30 in its ends, the lowerportlons of said compartments being of form to enter the recessed memberF when said two members are folded together, a lid 25 hinged to theouter side edge of the compartment member F and closing over it, lidsupporting arms 27-27 on each of its ends, one end of the arms beingpivoted on the lid, the opposite ends having transverse pins 29extending through the before-mentioned inclined slots 30, and beingmovable in said grooves 31, means to secure the described members F-F inerected or folded position, comprising arms 32 on each side, pi oted atone of their ends near the inner side of the compartment member F, saidarms having integral locking heads on their opposite ends. with openings37-3737 therein, locking pins 38 on the ends of the recess member F nearits outer side, locking pins 39 in similar location on the compartmentmember F said pins being each so disposed that they will enteroppositely placed openings of the said locking heads when the table iserected or folded, fulcrum holding plates pivoted on the recessed memberF arranged and formed to receive the arm 32 in sliding engagementtherewith, tubular legs hinged to the lower surface of the table membersFF and having longitudinal slots therein, transverse openings oppositethe upper ends of the slots and recesses opposite the lower ends thereofand leg braces having ends formed at right angles thereto and collarsnear the extremity thereof, one end of said braces being pivoted on thelower surface of the table member the right angled end thereof extendinginto the leg slot and through the upper openings in the leg when it iserected or into the lower recess of the leg when it is folded,substantially as described.

3. In a portable folding military field table having two hinged members,one member F being recessed and one member F being provided withupwardly opening compartments, a compartment lid hinged to its outsideedge and means to support said table members in erected position, thecombination with a table of said description, of mechanism for securingits members F-F in erected or folded position, consisting of arms 32 oneach side pivoted at one of their ends near the inner side of thecompartment member F, said arms having integral locking heads on theiropposite ends with openings 37-3737 therein, locking pins 38 on the endsof the recessed member F near its outer side, locking pins 39 in similarlocation on the compartment member F said pins being each so disposedthat it will enter oppositely placed openings of the said locking headswhen the table is erected or folded, fulcrum holding plates pivoted onthe recessed member F arranged and formed to receive the arm 32 insliding engagement therewith, substantially as described.

4. In a portable folding military field table having two hinged membersF-F, one of which has compartments, a lid hinged on its outside edge andmeans to sup port each of said members in erected position, thecombination with said table, of extension leaves H-H hinged to the outersides of said members, and means to secure the same in erected or foldedposition consisting of a suitably formed arm pivoted on the end of theleaf, its opposite free end having a transverse opening a pivotalho1ding plate on the table member through which the arm passes insliding engagement, also afulcrum stop, on the member and a pin in theouter side of the end of the eX- tension leaf positioned to enter saidtransverse opening, substantially as described.

ADRIAN S. FLEMING. JOHN CURRY.

Witnesses GEO. E. THoMPsoN, J AS. P. STAPLETON.

